Entry Level Process Control Engineer Jobs in Idaho

Where you will work

Lewiston is Clearwater Paper’s original manufacturing facility and home to nearly 700 dedicated team members who power our site. Together, we make paperboard used in products across the United States, including food packaging, plates, cups and more. Home to the first mill that produced poster board from wood waste, the site currently operates two paper machines, two extruders, two power boilers and two recovery boilers.

Located where the Snake and Clearwater rivers meet on the Idaho-Washington border, Lewiston offers an active outdoor lifecycle with easy access to fishing, boating, hiking and camping. The region’s milder climate means more rain than snow in the winter and long, sunny days in the summer.

Living here means you’ll be close to Lewis-Clark State College, University of Idaho, Washington State University, and Walla Walla Community College, as well as strong local K–12 school districts.

What you will do

The Process Control Engineer designs, maintains, and optimizes automated manufacturing systems. Key focus areas include safety, quality, cost and process reliability.

Process Control Systems and Performance Integrity

• Maintain integrity and performance of systems, process controls, plant historian and networks
• Provide direct hands-on on-call support on rotating 24x7 basis
• Respond to calls for control system hardware malfunctions and repair those malfunctions, including control system processors, control system i/o sub systems and Human Machine Interface (HMI) systems
• Respond to calls for control system software problems and repair those problems including loop configuration, graphics configuration, and timing issues
• Respond to calls for problems calibrating or setting up field instruments, valves and motors
• Respond to calls for process network infrastructure problems and repair those problems, including problems with switches, fiber optic converters, cabling and power distribution
• Add and modify data history collection parameters to optimize information available vs space requirements
• Ownership of the QCS system components
• Plan and implement timely upgrades and maintenance

Equipment Safety Subject Matter Expert 

• Support and execute risk reduction to employees through the Aspects and Impacts (risk assessment) program
• Understand Alternative Protective Measures for routine, repetitive and integral tasks and how Safety Category, Safety Integration Level (SIL), or Performance Level (PL) keep employees safe
• Review all capital projects to ensure Clearwater Paper equipment safety standards are being met
• Provide support during the design phase, installation, and commissioning of the equipment to ensure compliance

Design, implement, and/or program DCS/PLC and other control systems 

• Design, implement and/or program DCS/PLC and other control systems
• Develop and implement new additions or enhancements to process control systems within systems standards
• Configure OPC servers for cross system communication
• Design and implement security systems
• Solicit proposals for upgrades or migrations from out of date or poorly functioning systems
• Configure historical collection systems
• Test implementations to guarantee adequate performance
• Update plant historian and other systems to enable data to be accessed from Parcview
• Design and implement interfaces between various systems
• Assure proper functioning of version control software

Perform system administrator functions

• Perform system administrator functions on the process networks providing security protection procedures updates and backup of software and data as required
• Backup DCS database and verify restore
• Backup PI systems and verify restore
• Design and implement backup servers for mission critical roles
• Configure firewalls and DMZ to protect control networks
• Install Windows and VMS operating systems
• Update software versions for Valmet DNA, including updating servers, workstations, and operator stations

Training

• Train others in proper, effective use, maintenance, and troubleshooting of systems and networks
• Determine and attend relevant training to advance personal knowledge in subject areas to benefit process control and optimization
• Determine training needs and schedule training classes for employees
• Train hourly employees in the use of Allen Bradley, & Valmet DNA programming and diagnostic software if applicable
• Train hourly employees to find root cause of control system problems

Key Competencies & Attributes 

• Actively seeks and allocates appropriate decision-making authority or task responsibility to appropriate individuals based on their abilities, availability, motivation, and development needs; considers potential positive and negative impact, business unit priorities, organizational values, and the opportunity to enhance others’ knowledge and skills
• Identifies barriers that impact customer service and retention; communicates concerns and recommendations to others
• Uses understanding of customer needs and the organization’s customer service practices to set priorities, make decisions, and take actions that create customer satisfaction and prevent service issues from occurring
• Creates relevant options for addressing problems and opportunities that will achieve desired outcomes
• Systematically evaluates business opportunities, targeting those with the greatest potential for producing positive business results

What you will need

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Paper Science required, Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering preferred
• Entry level position with experience in an internship in the manufacturing industry or paper experience preferred
• Must have good troubleshooting ability and be a self-starter
• Ability to effectively work with vendors, managers and production employees to achieve goals
• Strong verbal and written communication skills required
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel at an intermediate level
• High speed manufacturing environment, sustained exposure to high frequency noises, multiple hours standing, walking on concrete surfaces
• Personal Protective Equipment required in mill environment
• Dirt, noise, odor, and temperature extremes
• Climbing stairs, ladders, and scaffolding
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals used in manufacturing process

Total Rewards Details

We prioritize an exceptional workplace experience, offering a comprehensive total reward package. Compensation ranges are estimates based on market data.  Actual offers account for internal equity and the candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, education, and experience. Benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and more, generally begin after 30 days. Our paid time off includes vacation days, personal days, and company holidays. For more on our compensation philosophy, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team at Talent.Acquisition@clearwaterpaper.com.

Clearwater Paper will not offer sponsorship for employment-based visa status (including, but not limited to, H-1B visa status and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas) for this position.  Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require Clearwater Paper's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States. 

#ClearwaterPaper #Lewiston

This role will be open for a minimum of 2 weeks or at the point a successful candidate is selected.